Summary: Partitio is in Conning Creek, handing out fliers for the Merfolk Merchant's Fair, where he unexpectedly runs into Osvald again. They have a chat on the beach about Osvald's plans for revenge, and his wavering resolve. Partitio talks him through his doubts and reignites the fire in Osvald's breast, and they find themselves growing closer in the process. Much closer...

After Partitio had made his way home, his pops had given him the important task of spreading the word to various human settlements about the upcoming Merfolk Merchant's Fair. For the past week, he had been visiting towns on the coast of the Western continent, and his current stop was Conning Creek.

"Thankee kindly for the lift, sir!" Partitio tipped his hat and waved to the man who had given him a ride back to the beach on his cart. "And I hope to see you at the fair!"

The man gave him a smile and a nod as he tucked away the flier that Partitio had handed him, and he returned to town. Partitio pulled out his map and his gaze moved between it and the sky a few times. It was almost midday, so if he left now, he reckoned he could make it to Canalbrine by sundown…

However, he caught sight of a rather large, yet familiar silhouette out of the corner of his eye, and a cheeky grin slowly spread over his face as he pushed off of the dock and swam up the beach a bit.

"Howdy there, friend!" Partitio shouted when he had reached Osvald's line of sight. Hoo-eey, this sure was a surprise! He hadn't expected to see his new human friend again so soon, but he sure wasn't complaining.

Osvald was snapped from his thoughts at the unexpected, but familiar voice. His eyes went wide behind his glasses, and he pulled them off to wipe them clean, not believing what he was seeing. Partitio was still there when he put them back on, watching him with that beaming smile of his, and Osvald offered a smile of his own. This was certainly a pleasant surprise.

"Partitio, good to see you."

"Right back at ya!" Partitio shimmied through the shallows until he had dragged himself up onto the sand, and Osvald sat down next to him when he had plopped down onto the dry sand and rolled onto his back. "Didn't expect to see you here, partner!"

"I could say the same to you. What are you doing here?"

"Well," Partitio pushed himself up before flicking up the brim of his hat as he reached into his bag, pulling out a flier and handing it to Osvald, "We're having the very first Merfolk Merchant's Fair in a few months, so I've been spreading the word."

"Intriguing…" Osvald scanned the flier and stroked his beard. He had his revenge to focus on, but the prospect of being able to interact with more merfolk at this fair definitely piqued his interest. He hoped that he could find Harvey and deal with him before the fair…

"My turn now!" Partitio said as he placed his hands on his hips, "What're you up to? Did you get your revenge yet?"

"No, but I did find out where Harvey might be hiding."

"Well, that's good, right?"

"Hmp."

Partitio's brow furrowed when Osvald frowned and averted his gaze. He seemed a bit…conflicted about something, and Partitio couldn't help but ask about it.

"Something wrong, partner?"

Osvald quickly shook his head. "It's nothing that you need to concern yourself with-"

"Aw now, don't give me that hogwash!" Partitio interrupted, rolling onto his stomach and wagging a finger at Osvald, whose eyes had gone wide. "I told ya before, I wanna help you in any way that I can, even if it's just lendin' ya a ear or two."

Osvald watched as Partitio chuckled before fixing his gaze upon him, and he felt his cheeks heat up. Osvald had encountered many different kinds of people in his lifetime as an accomplished scholar, but Partitio really was unlike anyone he had ever met. He seemed so genuine and earnest, and Osvald was willing to let his guard down around him, surprisingly enough.

"Well, Conning Creek was my home before I was sent to prison, and I ran into my former assistant when I went to search my study for clues…" Osvald told Partitio of the fate of Clarissa's husband, Ethan, and what had transpired when he had confronted Captain Stenvar. Partitio listened intently, his tail swishing back and forth on the sand. Golly, Osvald sure did lead an eventful life, but Partitio wished that fate hadn't taken so much away from him.

"...and it seems that Harvey is somewhere in Montwise. That is my next destination."

Partitio let out a long whistle as he propped himself up on his elbows and rest his chin against his hands. "Shoot, that's quite a ways away from here!"

"Indeed. But I must go nonetheless." Osvald closed his eyes and raised a hand to his chest, clenching his fist. "This fire in my breast can only be extinguished by Harvey dying by my hand…"

"However…" Partitio cocked his head to one side when Osvald averted his gaze and worried his bottom lip between his teeth. "Something that Clarissa said is weighing heavily on my mind."

"What's that, partner?"

"She does not agree with my pursuit of revenge, even though Harvey also indirectly caused the death of her husband. I cannot let him live after all that he has done, and yet…" Osvald let out a frustrated grunt and crossed his arms over his chest, and Partitio's eyes widened when Osvald's intense gaze was suddenly fixed upon him.

"What would you do, Partitio?"

"Huh?"

"What would you do if someone you cared about was murdered senselessly, your home destroyed, your freedom taken away?"

Partitio was taken aback by the question, and he rolled back over onto his back, folding his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes. He was young and hadn't fallen in love before, so he couldn't imagine how painful it would be to have a spouse or child taken away from him so violently. He had experienced the loss of a loved one before, however, but from different circumstances.

"Well, Osvald," Partitio started as he pushed himself up and offered Osvald a sad smile as he placed a hand over his, "I can't say that I completely understand the pain that you've been through, but I did lose my mom when I was just a kid."

Osvald was watching him silently, so Partitio continued: "She died of illness, so it's not the same, but I know that if someone had murdered her instead, I'd have done anything to make them pay for it. The same goes for my pops and step-dad too. And anyone else important to me." Just the thought of anything so horrific happening to his family brought tears to Partitio's eyes, and he rubbed at his nose as he blinked them away.

"What I'm trying to say is, I think you have every right to get your revenge, partner." Partitio gave Osvald's hand a squeeze, and his heart skipped a beat when Osvald's curled around his in return. "Someone who could commit such monstrous acts can't be left to their own devices, and needs a swift dose of good ol' justice in the form of an ass-kickin'."

Osvald stared at Partitio for a moment, before he let out a soft chuckle. As carefree and cheerful as he was, the young merman also seemed wise beyond his years, and Osvald was thankful that fate had brought them together again.

"...Thank you, Partitio, for helping to solidify my resolve. I will not let Harvey get away with what he has done," Osvald said, and Partitio grinned as he slapped a hand to his shoulder a few times.

"That's the spirit! I can't be there with ya, but I'll be cheerin' you on from afar!"

"I appreciate the support." Osvald sighed as his gaze shifted to the sky; it was almost midday, and as much as he was enjoying Partitio's company, he really needed to start making his way to Montwise.

"Right…I should head on out too." Partitio took off his hat and stowed it in his travel bag, and he stretched his arms over his head while cracking his neck. "The Merfolk Merchant's Fair won't advertise itself, you know!" Osvald chucked as Partitio beamed at him, and he flipped onto his stomach. Partitio enjoyed his jaunts upon dry land, but having to drag himself to and from the water was always an annoying aspect of it.

"...Allow me."

Partitio flipped back over to look at Osvald. "What're ya-Oh!" He yelped in surprise when Osvald slipped his arms under him, lifting the startled merman into his arms with impressive ease. Partitio's heartbeat went off to the races, and he turned his beet-red face away as Osvald started walking towards the water. The end of Partitio's tail automatically curled around Osvald's shoulders, and if that bothered Osvald at all, he didn't show it.

"S-Shucks, you don't have to do this, you know…" Partitio swallowed thickly, trying to chase away the dryness that had suddenly invaded his mouth, before letting himself relax and lay his head against Osvald, while his hands fell onto his shoulders. Partitio could clearly hear his steady heartbeat, and he couldn't help but stare at the exposed part of his broad, toned, hairy chest. When Osvald's strong arms tightened around him, Partitio's own heartbeat started hammering hard within his ears, causing his head to spin. What in tarnation was wrong with him?

"Nonsense. You're only up here because of me. The least I can do is get you back to the water so you don't have to drag yourself again," Osvald said, and a small smile crossed his face when Partitio mumbled a protest under his breath.

For someone who spent most of their time in water, Partitio was surprisingly warm, cradled in Osvald's arms. He shuddered slightly when he felt Partitio's tail fall across his shoulders, tickling the back of his neck. It was an odd sensation, but not unpleasant, and Osvald inhaled sharply when he felt Partitio's breath against the exposed part of his chest. His arms tightened around Partitio and his heart raced in response, causing Osvald to narrow his eyes; he did not know what to make of his body's peculiar reactions.

"Thankee kindly, Osvald," Partitio said when Osvald had carried him knee-deep into the sea. Osvald nodded as he let go of Partitio, and he let himself hang from Osvald's shoulders for a moment so that he could carefully lower himself into the water. Partitio's eyes met Osvald's for a brief moment, and a bubbly warmth blossomed within his chest. He tore his eyes from Osvald's and felt his face flush as he finally let himself drop into the water. This feeling…he had felt it before, but not nearly as strong, as passionate, and that was going to make things complicated…

"Take care, Partitio," Osvald said as Partitio started to swim away.

"You too, Osvald! Until next time!"

Osvald watched as Partitio swam away and dove underwater when it was deep enough. An odd feeling erupted inside of him, like a swarm of butterflies had taken flight within his gut. His heart was consumed with the fires of revenge, but as Osvald placed a fist over his chest, a gentle warmth seemed to push ever-so-slightly against that raging wildfire. It was a feeling that Osvald had felt before, but had long since thought buried deep under his heartbreak and burning desire for revenge. A feeling that he hadn't felt in five long years…

As Partitio broke the surface again and turned to wave at Osvald one last time, their hearts raced and cheeks flushed red as the same thought ran through their heads, when their mutual attraction suddenly hit them both like a ton of bricks:

Oh no…